1. The Problem of Overcoming Sinful Habits

2. Mark Twain I NTRODUCTION To Define: “ Custom or practice; especially an aptitude or inclination for some action, acquired by repetition and showing itself in facility of performance or in decreased power of resistance.” Webster To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I've done it a thousand times.

3. I NTRODUCTION “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

4. Are you allowing bad habits to rob you of your:  Happiness?  Health?  Spiritual Growth?  Spiritual Productivity?  Confidence?  Security? Drug Addiction - Drinking Alcohol – Pornography – Covetousness - Tobacco – Overeating - Cursing/Swearing Lying/Gossip – Fault-Finding – Complaining – Worry – Wastefulness – Absenteeism - Tardiness - I NTRODUCTION

5. Recognize and identify the problem! How to Break a Bad Habit  Blindness to the need to stop a bad habit ensures the rejection of all pleas to stop – Matt 13:14,16; Rev 3:17  Identify the cause, NOT just the symptoms-- Matt 15:12-19; 23:26  The sooner the better- 2 Cor 6:2; Heb 3:15

6. Cultivate a STRONG desire to quit. How to Break a Bad Habit –  The desire to quit must be stronger than the desire to continue– John 7:17; Rom 6:16-18  Requires proper and sufficient motivation– Prov 1:7; Ps 112:1; John 14:15; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 John 3:3; 5:4  People do what they REALLY want to do!!

7. Cultivate hatred for the habit. How to Break a Bad Habit  Too many have a lax view of sin and its consequences. We need to see sin as being black and hell as hot – Matt 5:29,30  We MUST hate anything that prevents us from bearing fruit-- John 15:1-7; Psa 119:104; Prov 8:13; Rom 12:9

8. Seek God’s help. How to Break a Bad Habit  What is God’s will regarding sin in your life? Acts 17:30; 2 Pet 3:9; Ezek 18:30- 32  What temptation CANNOT be overcome with God’s help? Eph 6:10-18; 1 Cor 10:13  I can do ________ through Christ. Philippians 4:13

9. Seek aid from your brethren. How to Break a Bad Habit  Humility is needed in each of these steps, but one needs enough humility to seek support from other brethren – 1 Pet 5:5; Rom 15:1; Gal 6:1,2  The strong CANNOT force accountability on the weak – Heb 13:7,17; 1 Thess 5:12-14

10. Quit now. How to Break a Bad Habit  The sooner you act, the easier it is to quit – Eccl 12:1; Prov 22:6; 2 Cor 6:2  If you were diagnosed with cancer when it was in its early, treatable stage, would you delay? What about sin, which is a far more serious problem?

11. Philippians 4:8 “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.”  Our thoughts. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

12. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!  Our thoughts. Colossians 3:1-2 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

13. Romans 8:5,6 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”  Our thoughts. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

14. Psalm 119:11,97 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!” “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”  Bible study. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

15. Isaiah 34:16 "Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.”  Bible study. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

16. Acts 17:11 “These were more fair- minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”  Bible Study. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

17. Luke 18:1 “ Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Colossians 4:2 “ Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “ Pray without ceasing.”  Prayer. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

18. Hebrews 10:24,25 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  Attendance. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

19. Acts 8:4 “ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “ For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.”  Share your faith. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

20. Ephesians 4:32 “ And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Romans 12:10 “ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”  Do kind deeds. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

21. Galatians 5:22 “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 “ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.”  Do kind deeds. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

22. Acts 11:23 “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”  Speak uplifting words to others. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

23. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  Speak uplifting words to others. Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones!

24.  Requires desire,  Commitment, Proverbs 4:20-22 “ My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.” How to Develop a Good Habit

25.  Requires desire,  Commitment,  Diligence,  Focus, Proverbs 4:23-25 “ Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.” How to Develop a Good Habit

26.  Requires desire,  Commitment,  Diligence,  Focus,  Determination,  Dedication,  Action! Proverbs 4:26-27 “ Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.” How to Develop a Good Habit

27. I NTRODUCTION “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

28. C ONCLUSION  Do you have sinful habits that that you need to break? (Recognize your need)  The longer you continue in sin, the harder it is to stop. (Stop today; repent)  Cultivate a hatred for sin and for all that stands between spiritual growth and eternal reward, AND cultivate love for God, and for what is right and good! (Commit and start today)  Replace sinful habits with godly habits. (Take determined and decisive action)

29. Concluding Thoughts Are you ready to stop your sinful habits? Replace Bad Habits With Good Ones! “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17